US Press – Welcome Home Troops

US Mainstream Press Manipulation Update:

Mark Dice commentary at 2:10 below:

JFK speaks about the role of the press and voices of dissent in a free society:

Conspiracy Theory?

Maybe there would be less in the way of conspiracy theories if people felt like they were properly informed.

Where is the press in all this?

Love to see more in the way of newspeople asking questions.

What we get now is sort of a press release style of news reporting where a statement is prepared by whatever agency was involved in the latest policy update, drug bust/federal grant money award, etc.

Newspeople post the statement as is. A 5th grade book report would require more in the way of asking questions.

Regular newspeople don’t seem to have permission to ask hard questions.

Sports is different.

After each game, the press has access to coaches and players. All sorts of information is available all of the time.

Sports writers are OK with being critical of coaches, teams, players, the rule book, the league, referees, team owners, when the season starts and ends, etc.

In government, it is fully understood that people will not have access to complete information through everyday channels.

Ever hear of a Freedom of Information Act Request in sports? How about a denied FOIA request?

Ever see a pro football coach or quarterback refer reporters to his press secretary for answers? Presidents do so on a daily basis. Professionals are hired to provide only the desired version of answers to questions.

Ever see a pro football coach or quarterback refer reporters to a public information officer for answers to questions?

The open attitude about sports reporting does not cross over to stories about the US Dept. of Homeland Security, big drug busts, The Troops, the War on Terror or local water quality impacted by sewage treatment plant outfalls.

More here: Newspeople Ask Questions If It’s A Sports Story

Are people who work for newspapers and TV news folks given permission to go out and to do interviews related to public policy? If elected officials and people who run government agencies are not available to be interviewed, that should become the story.

Mainstream media functions like paid actors reading a script.

Americans do not live in a free and honest society. Today, the mainstream media will function like paid actors reading a script:

Would any newsperson ever ask:

Did the advantage of US air power allow the undeclared wars in Iraq or Afghanistan to be prevented, won or shut down?

US jet aircraft have been able to strike targets in what wars won by the US?

Currently serving four-star officers and high level DOD civilians have been associated with what wars won by the US?

Has dressing women to look like men had any positive or negative impact on recruiting?

State Run Media – Misinformation? Any Questions from Newspeople?

Glorification of military service / total nonsense:

Our right to vote has always been protected by the brave men and women who serve in our Armed Forces.

Do you have a veteran in your life you would like to thank?

You can honor them by sharing their story and reading the stories of other veterans: https://t.co/ZbQSXTP2xd pic.twitter.com/9BlBECvCji

— Washington Office of the Secretary of State (@secstatewa) May 25, 2020

“Our right to vote has always been protected by the brave men and women who serve in our Armed Forces.”

Page 7 of the Washington State Elections Voters Pamphlet for the November 5th, 2019 General Election:

“Our right to vote is protected by the members of the U.S. Armed Forces.”

If a right to vote has always been protected by the brave men and women who serve in our Armed Forces, how come women were not allowed full voting rights at the end of WWI?

Why the need for a 1965 Voting Rights Act if overseas military operations somehow secured voting rights?

If a right to vote is protected by the US Armed Forces, what becomes of that right when the US leaves Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, etc., without a victory?

Men Died For the Right to Vote?

Right To Vote Linked To Military Operations/US Troops in Distant Lands?

Less respect for the federal government. Less respect for the press.

Local newspapers are suppressing online comment sections, getting away from asking questions related to public policy, and telling us they need more support from subscription and advertising sales while lining up for federal bailout cash.

Got it.

May 28, 2020 WMAR

Salisbury Mayor deploying to Africa with Maryland National Guard

“I am honored to do my part to ensure that the citizens of this community and all Americans remain safe and free.”

Several news sources published this quote. View them here.

The idea that sending hometown troops to Africa would be linked in any way with keeping the people of Salisbury Maryland safe and free calls for more discussion.

Mayor Day,

While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.

Can elected officials of any party or any member of the press help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?

December 21st 2019 KOMO News

Legal age to buy cigarettes, vapes raised to 21 nationwide

“Signed into law by President Donald Trump Friday as part of the new $1.4 trillion spending bill, a new measure prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.”

Decades of undeclared/unwon DOD wars and talk of defending American rights and freedoms that never seems to stand up to any questioning or discussion. The US press won’t touch it.

October 3, 2023 Alaska National Guard Public Affairs

Alaska National Guardsmen Prepare for Middle East Deployment

“Lt. Col. Luke Bushatz, 1-297th battalion commander, spoke to the Guard members about safeguarding the fundamental freedoms we cherish.”

“You guard liberty because you choose to be a part of something that is bigger than the individual,” said Bushatz. “You willingly choose to submit yourselves to one another, holding yourself accountable for the preservation of rights of men given by God.”

More here: The people of Alaska need services in the Middle East

More Discussion Please

Both major parties tell us The Troops are in distant lands to defend American rights and freedoms.

CNN Nov 11, 2023

Biden honors Americans who ‘stood on the front lines of freedom’ in Veterans Day remarks

Sorry, no newspeople available to ask:

Mr President,

Going back to the 1990 Operation Desert Shield,

How would American freedoms today be any different if US troops were never sent to Iraq?

Uncle Sam is having a hell of a time finding people to sign up for the US Armed Forces. Pretending that decades of undeclared/unwon wars are linked in any way with American freedoms is the kind of dishonesty that will snuff out the energy American families once had for encouraging young people to enlist.

Good luck with your US Armed Forces recruiting crisis.

The country struggles with:

Cultural Honesty

Local press:

“For the past couple of years, the Whidbey News-Times paid the insurance for the Veterans Day Parade, about $200, because it was a small way of saying thank you to the men and women who sacrificed so that we may have our liberties, including our Freedom of Speech.”

Were US troops sent to Vietnam so that Americans could be free to send letters to the editor?

Is there any case in which the US Armed Forces have been sent to distant lands on a mission to protect freedom of speech?

Is protecting freedom of speech even part of training scenarios?

Military Town – Hometown Pride

The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.

In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our security. That’s as good as it gets.

In terms of American rights and freedoms- The Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.